COVID-19: Potential role of prophylactic anticoagulation in preventing thrombotic events and mortality. Narrative review
Maximiliano Gabriel Castro, Gisel Cuevas
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic and the limited therapeutic arsenal available strain daily clinical practice. Guidelines have recently recommended routine anticoagulation of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, apart from the expert panels’ experience, the provenance of this recommendation is not clear, due to the scarce published evidence. We provide a narrative review with the objective of unraveling the rationale for this practice.
First, we analyze the biochemical, histopathological and clinical evidence for a pro-thrombotic profile in COVID-19 patients. Then, we present the clinical data from previous studies and discuss to what extent they aid in clinical decision-making.
We conclude that, in the absence of randomized controlled trials, which are of utmost importance, prophylactic-dose anticoagulation should be offered to critically ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia, particularly those with high d-dimer levels, since they are the population most likely to benefit from it.
Keywords
References
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Submitted date:
01/25/2021
Reviewed date:
02/11/2021
Accepted date:
02/19/2021
Publication date:
02/21/2021
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